do acrylic paints go off?

The paint you got is probably intended for airbrushing. I disagree with manufacturers making paint that thin and watery since it makes it difficult for people who hand brush, but many of them do. You might be able to leave the cap off the bottles for a while and maybe it will thicken up some. Not sure, never tried it.

damn, I dont airbrush so it looks like Im stuffed. I'll try leaving the lids off for a while, hopefully that fixes it.

How do you mix your paints? I've had probs with paint before but after buying the Badger paint mixer a lot of them are a lot easier to manage! If you can't get your hands on one go to the supermarket and look in the cooking supplies (where the thermometers and spoons and stuff are) and see if they have a mini mixer. It is a small white handlewith batteries in it, with a split in the end that separates a bit when turned on at the end. Cut the paddles off and you almost have the Badger mixer...

Hmmm... the brand on the bottle is Academy? I didnt know they made paints.. where'd ya get them from?

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 How do you mix your paints? Hmmm... the brand on the bottle is Academy? I didnt know they made paints.. where'd ya get them from?

I generally just shake the bottle for 30 seconds and then stir it with a toothpick. I might have to have a look for that device you mention, sounds great.

I didnt think they made paints either, I bought them from my local hobby store. the set is called "aircraft colors" and has commonly used aircraft colors, eg, ghost grey, german green, etc. the colors I am having problems with are greys and white, green isnt so bad

The paints in my LHS called Aircraft Colors are from Vallejo and are sold by a company called Color of Eagles. Are they in a plastic squeeze bottle with a picture of an eagle on the front? If so you just need to shake them more. The badger thing wont fit down the neck. If you get the supermarket version it WILL fit down the neck after cutting off the paddles...

good luck to you! And yeah, I have to do two or three coats with these sometimes depending on the color but they usually dry nice and smooth unlike other acrylics I have tried to brush...

ahhh.... I just reread your post and didnt notice something the first time... light colors have a hard time covering in one pass. My recommendation is to go to Wal Mart or the hardware store and get some white primer, or the auto parts store should have it too... once you prime with that, the whites and greys will cover a LOT better!!! Almost all brands have troubles with the light colors like that...

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 My recommendation is to go to Wal Mart or the hardware store and get some white primer, or the auto parts store should have it too... once you prime with that, the whites and greys will cover a LOT better!!! Almost all brands have troubles with the light colors like that...

thanks for the tips, I will have to get some primer then. will hobby primer work better or will any primer do?

I use car primer, it works OK. Don't try to cover the model in one pass, then you will get runs. Do about 3 thin layers.

Tamiya primer works really good for plastic and metal. I used it recently on a metal figure and covers nicely in a couple of thin coats leaving detail showing.